A 62-year-old man has been given a two year suspended sentence for his involvement in running a highly sophisticated illegal vodka distilling factory 'for the lads'.
Brian Smith Snr with an address in Millgrange in Greenore Co Louth was caught by Revenue officials when they raided a remote farm shed near the border over three years ago.
Inside they found enough alcohol to make 5,000 bottles of vodka.
The former publican pleaded guilty in court today to a charge of dealing in excisable products on 4 December 2004 in Castletowncooley, Riverstown, Co Louth.
Paul Garland from the special investigations unit with the Revenue Service said that on that day officers began a surveillance operation on the shed.
They saw a van pull up and saw the defendant and another man get out and lift a large blue drum in to the shed.
When Revenue officials gained access to the shed they found a sophiscated vodka distilling operation.
It appeared the men were bottling vodka in order to pass it off as Smirnoff and another vodka called Glens, which is popular in the UK.
Smirnoff cartons
Hundreds of Smirnoff cardboard cartons were found inside the shed, as were convincing looking labels and a large stack of bottles which were to be washed.
Revenue officials also found two industrial bulk containers, one full of 1,000 litres of neutral alcohol - 94.5% proof.
There was also a forklift, a machine for resealing bottle caps and a machine for making the caps.
The alcohol would be diluted with tap water and then capped, packed and shipped off.
Mr Garland said the defendant was literally the bottle washer and that he was being paid about €100 a day for his work. He was not the main man behind the scheme.
The court was also told the defendant was unemployed and had been a volunteer fireman in the area for more than 30 years.
He had also run a pub in Carlingford for a number of years.
In all there was enough alcohol to make 3,500 litres of vodka which would fill 5,000 standard bottles and worth a total of nearly €66,000.
Judge Michael O'Shea said it was unfortunate 'the untouchables', those who set up and profited from the operation, were not there at the time.
If anyone was going to get caught it would be the person at the bottom of the ladder and on this occasion that was the defendant.
Smith knew what he was doing was illegal and in the circumstances Judge O'Shea imposed a two year suspended sentence, on condition that he keep the peace.
